The Q Mark: generating consumer confidence

The Q Mark for Hygiene and Food Safety symbol provides assurance to the consumer that the food business is operating well above legislative obligations. Here, Ray Ellard of FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Ireland), and Dr Gary Kearney and Dr Linda Gordon o

“The Q Mark recognises those businesses which put a huge amount of work into creating a quality standard on a consistent basis and we are very happy to support such positive awards which recognises these efforts,” says Ray Ellard, Director of Consumer Protection at FSAI, which is a sponsor at The Q Mark awards. “The businesses with The Q Mark are serious about food safety and quality, and they are focused on keeping customers satisfied and protecting them”.

“The Q Mark provides added assurance to customers and other businesses that the certified company’s people they deal with are serious about high standards of quality and food safety.”

A JUDGEMENT CALL

“As a food safety judge for The Q Mark awards, it’s a great achievement for businesses to be nominated because they become the ‘cream of the crop’,” says Dr Gary Kearney, Director of Food Science with Safe- food. “My role is to pick questions that try to pinpoint their level of expertise and how well they can translate knowledge into practice”.

“In 2017, we looked at why customers trust a business and it showed that food safety is number one. Some businesses would overlook this because they focus on cash flow, employees and rent. All of these things are crucial to keep the business going but if you don’t prioritise your food safety, all of that is irrelevant.”

Focusing on standards of the quality of food is important for judging the businesses, but staff training and care is also taken into consideration.

“This year, we also emphasised the process around handwashing,” says Kearney. “We had a case study asking how employees would handle an instance of a staff member not washing their hands. It is probably the single most important hygiene factor that a business can use to prevent food poisoning. This resonates with Safefood because we are always pushing the basic elements of food safety to consumers, but the same principle applies to businesses looking for The Q Mark.”

CERTIFYING QUALITY

Dr Linda Gordon, Chief Specialist in Food Science at Safefood, is another food safety expert involved with The Q Mark, showing their commitment to expert opinion. With a background in food microbiology, Gordon is on the certification committee.

“My role is to provide independent oversight of the whole process of auditing. We oversee the marks the auditors have given to the various premises that they have visited over time, and we approve these and as a result, certify businesses with The Q Mark.

“I work to promote food safety and it’s very helpful to see what’s going on in businesses, from corner shops and petrol station forecourts to large supermarkets. Any business which prepares and sells food on the premises must have a standard of quality as consumers are very aware of food safety. Being Q Mark certified allows consumers to have confidence in their food.”

Gordon says The Q Mark for Hygiene and Food Safety allows consumers to trust in the food they buy, but it also helps the businesses themselves.

“The technical standards give businesses a framework to work within. Having The Q Mark shows that they are operating to the highest food safety standards, they are being checked regularly and have to keep the standards up year after year. This gives customers assurances that the food they are buying will be safe and the premises is operating to the highest standards.

“Businesses have a lot of legislation they have to work towards, but The Q Mark technical standard is very user friendly and is laid out very clearly. It’s a great framework to work within and they can also ask advice from the auditors when they come in. Consumers should take confidence that if they see The Q Mark, the business is operating to a high food safety standard.”